SNP80: Defence Ministry Preparing SNP Anniversary Celebrations

Bratislava, August 6 (TASR) - The Defence Ministry, Government Office and other co-organisers are preparing nationwide celebrations of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), which will take place on August 28-29 in Banska Bystrica, TASR has learnt from the ministry. The celebrations will include a rich programme as well as a military parade. Meanwhile, the SNP Museum in Banska Bystrica will open its exhibition to the public free of charge for the event. The ministry noted that the commemorative act of laying wreaths at the SNP Memorial will start at 10.00 a.m. on August 29, and it will be broadcast live by the Slovak Television and Radio. The programme will then continue with speeches by guests. The military parade is scheduled to take place at 5.30 p.m., followed by a gala evening with musical performances, which will be concluded with a fireworks display. The complete programme of the nationwide celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the SNP is published on the Defence Ministry's website. The main organiser of this year's SNP anniversary is the Defence Ministry. "As the legacy of the SNP is particularly strong for the Defence Ministry, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak has assumed general patronage of all official commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the SNP, which will take place across Slovakia during the entire calendar year," the ministry added. zel/mcs